NAM.1967-07-1-7

Scabbard for shasqua knife, nd. Belonged to Lt Col George Allen Preston, Kars, 1919. Wooden scabbard covered in brown leather, with silver mounts. Floral repousse decoration on outside of mouthpiece. Inscription in Russian and Arabic on inside of mouthpiece. Mrs Mollo translates the Russian part as: ‘DAGESTAN [believed to be a regiment of Caucasian Circassians [sic]] 1903 Age [probably the owner’s name]’. Type of fitting into the scabbard is more Caucasian than Russian [?]. Upper locket decorated with curling forms and has suspension stanchion on inside. Lower locket has central oval plate with curved motifs and two flanges with floral ornaments. Chape bears curved herbal forms. Dagestan possibly stands for the Dagestan 82nd Infantry Regiment (1845-1918). Associated with Circassians, Imperial Russian Army, 6th Gurkha Rifles, and 40th Pathans, World War One, Eastern Front (1914-1918).

World War One, Eastern Front (1914-1918)